Traction-engine



F. MOON.

TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28.1919.

1,370,756. Patented Mar. 8,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESS IN VEN TOR fie v A TTORNE YS QM; W

F; MOON.

TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. 1 919.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921 INVENTOR ;za.m WW

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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TRACTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.28.1919.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

WITNESS ATTORNEYS F. MOON.

TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28. 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- 1 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 8,1921.

WITNESS A T TOR NE YS UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

FRANK MOON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR- TO MOON TRACTOR C0,, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

TRACTION -EN GIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

T 0 all w hom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK MooN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to traction engines, and more. particularly to that type of traction engine in which the weight is carried upon continuous articulated self-laying tracks.

The objects of my invention are to provide a traction engine of the described type in which the entire weight of the machine rests upon the articulated tracks, there being no steering wheel to support even a fraction of the total weight, and to provide means for readily controlling and guiding such a machine; and further, to provide for strong, simple and inexpensive construction, so that on account of low first cost and maintenance the machine will be available to users of small means. In order to accom plish these objects, I make use preferably of an internal-combustion engine and a variable speed transmission mechanism, both of standard form, and transmit the power therefrom to the track chains by means of a completely inclosed and self-contained driving axle, all of which will be fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my traction engine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, showing the arrangement of the various members of the driving mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, enlarged, through the center of my driving axle.

Fig. 4: is a transverse section, enlarged, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3, showing one of the driving sprockets with its clutch and brake mechanis Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional detail view, enlarged, of one of the axle bearings, showing the pi'ovisions for housing the moving parts thereof.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional detail view, enlarged, of a portion of one of the front sprocket wheels, showing the bearing thereof.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a frame structure comprising side members 2, cross members 3 and intermed the center supporting ate fore and aft members 4 and 5, the relative positions thereof being shown in Fig. 2. The forward portion of the frame is preferably up-tilted, as shown in Fig. 1, to provide greater clearance for the front end of the machine, and a truss 2, is provided upon each side frame member 2 to increase the strength thereof.

The frame 1 supports an engine 6 of any well-known type, here indicated as an internal combustion engine. A radiator 7 is mounted forward of said engine for cooling the cylinder-jacket water, the connections therefor being omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness. A starting crank 8 is provided, and a pulley 9 is mounted upon the forward end of the engine crankshaft for supplying power for any desired exterior purpose. A hood 10 incloses the engine and its associated accessory devices, not shown.

The engine 6 is provided with the usual friction clutch and variable speed transmission mechanism, inclosed within housings 11 and 12 respectively, Fig. 2. Said clutch and transmission mechanism may be of any wellknown form, adapted to provide suitable speed and torque ratios for forward and backward operation of the machine.

From the variable speed transmission mechanism, the power is'transmitted by a drive shaft 13, Fig. 2, having suitable universal joints 14:, to a worm 15, Fig. 3 mounted within an axle housing 16. Said housing is supported by the frame members 5, Fig. 2, and is divided horizontally to permit access to the worm 15 and its associated parts.

Within the housing 16 is asolid, one-piece axle shaft 17, Fig. 3, having at its center a worm wheel 18 meshing with the worm 15. Said worm wheel is secured to said axle shaft, as by means of a key 19, and is provided with hubs 20, upon which are mounted bearings 21 of said axle shaft. Additional bearings22, Figs. 3

and 5 are provided for said axle shaft at the i ends of the housing 16, said bearings 22 being held in place by caps 23. The endthrust of the axle shaft is taken by the bearings 21 and 22, the latter having the har-v dened wearing rings 22' against which shoulders 17' of the axle bear. Packing 24 and packing. nuts 25 are provided to prevent grease from working out along the axle shaft 17 The ends of the axle shaft 17 are mounted in journals 26 fixed to the frame side member 2 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Driving wheels 27, Figs. 1 and 3 are freely 5 rotatable upon the axle shaft 17 Sald wheels are provided with journal bushings 28, Fig. 3, and have hollow hubs 29 adapted to contain a supply of lubricant. Packing 30, retained by packing nuts 31, 'is provlded at the outer ends of said hubs.

To the inner face of each driving wheel 27 is secured, as by means of cap-screws 32,

a clutch drum 33, having a V-shaped inner face 34. Said clutch face is adapted to be frictionally engaged by an expansible clutch ring 35, Figs. 3 and 4, faced with V-shaped arcuate friction blocks 36, Fig. 3. Said expansible clutch ring is carried by a flange 37, whose hub 38 is secured to the axle shaft 17 as by means of a key 39. Anchor pins '40, Fig s. 3 and 4, projecting laterally from said flange 37, engage radial slots 41 formed in said expansible ring 35.

Expansion of the ring 35 is effected by a cam 42, Fig. 4, operating between the'suitably formed spaced ends 43 of said ring. Said cam is carried by a short shaft 44 rotatably mounted in the flange 37, and having a lever 45. An adjustable screw 46 in the free end of said lever is adapted to ride upon the inclined face of a sleeve 47, Fig. 3, slidably mounted upon the hub 38 of the flange 37. Therefore, when said sleeve 47 is moved outwardly, 6. toward the wheel 27, the free end of the lever 45 is moved outwardly, and the cam 42 is rotated to expand the clutch ring 35, causing its facing blocks 36' to engage the annular drum 33 carried by the wheel 27 Thus said wheel is caused to 40 rotate with the axle shaft 17 A guide 48, Fig. 4, is provided for the cam lever 45.

The clutch mechanism above described is inclosed and protected by a plate 49, Fig. 3, secured by means not shown to the outer clutch drum 33, said plate closely surrounding the sliding sleeve 47 and being provided with packing 50. Similarly, a protecting ring 51 is secured to the end of said sleeve, said ring being provided with packing 52 surrounding the end of the worm gear housing 16, Figs, 3 and 5.

The sliding sleeve 47 is provided with an annular-groove 53, Figs. '2, 3 and 5, which is straddled and engaged by a yoke 54, Fig.

55 2, carried upon one end'of a bell-crank 55. Said bell-crankis pivoted at 56 to a fixed bracket 57 extending laterally from the frame member 5. The other end of said bell-crank engages a slot in a vertically dis- 60 posed hand-lever58, Figs. 1 and 2, pivotally mounted at its lower end' upon the frame member 5, and positioned within r a h f the operators seat 59. r

The clutch drum 33, carried by the wheel 6 27, is encircled by a brake band 60, Figs. 2,

3 and 4. Said band is anchored at 61, Fig. 2, upon an extension of the fixed bracket 57. Said band 60 is caused to contact, to engage its drum, by a bell-crank 62 and a link 63, Fig. 4, secured respectively to its free ends at 64 and 65. The end of said bellcrank 62 is connected with a lever 66, Fig. 2, pivoted at 67 to a fixed bracket 68 extending across the frame members 5. The other end of said lever 66 is connected by a link 69 with the clutch-operating bell-crank 55. The connection between said lever 66 and said link 69, as shown at 70 in Fig. 2, per

mits said link to have a certain amount of motlon without moving said lever.

As will readily be seen from Fig. 2 of the drawings, the clutch ring 35 is expanded, and caused to engage the drum 33 upon the wheel 27, by a forward movement of the operating lever 58, and in this position of said lever the wheel 27 isconnected to and caused to rotate with the axle shaft 17. Rearward movement of the operating lever first disengages the clutch, allowing said axle shaft 17 to turn freely within the wheel 27, and further rearward movement applies the brake to said wheel.

There are two such identical clutches, one for connecting each driving wheel 27 with the axle shaft 17 two brake bands 60; and two identical sets of operating mechanism, each controlled by a hand lever 58. Thus the operator may cause power to be applied through either or both driving wheels, and he may apply the brake upon either or both driving wheels. Steering is accomplished by driving one side only, and for negotiating short turns one wheel is held stationary by means of its brake, and the other, by means of its clutch, .is caused to travel around the stationary wheel as a fulcrum.

Hand levers 71 and 72 are provided for respectively controlling the friction clutch inclosed within the housing 11, and the variable speed transmission mechanism within the housing 12. The connections between said levers 71 and 72 and their respective controlled mechanisms are omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness, but it is understood that said connections may be of any well-known operative form. Similarly the engine is controlled by a throttle lever 73, whose connection with said engine may be made in any usual manner and is therefore not shown in the drawings.

Removable sprocket rings 7 4, Figs. 1 and 3, are secured to the driving wheels 27 as by means of cap screws 75. Thus in the event of wear of the sprocket teeth, only the sprocket ring need be replaced, and not the entire wheel.

Front idler wheels 76, Fig. 1, are mounted between the frame members 2 and 4. Said front wheels are formed with a hollow hub portion 77 Fig. 6, adapted to contain a supply of lubricant, and having a bushing 78,

which is rotatably mounted upon a fixed axle 79 supported in brackets 80, Figs. 1 and 2, secured to said frame members. Said front wheels are also provided with sprocket rings 81, Fig. 1, secured as by cap screws 82, said front sprockets 81 and the rear sprockets 74 being inter-changeable.

The track chains 83, Fig. 1, operate between and over the sprockets 74 and 81. Said track chains form no part of the present invention, and may be any well-known type of articulated track chain, adapted to support the weight of the machine.

In order to provide for adjustment of the track chains, the front axle supporting brackets 80 are adjustably secured to the frame by means of U-bolts 84, Fig. 1. Takeup bolts 85, secured to said brackets 80 at 86, and extending forwardly therefrom, are passed through brackets 87 fixed to the frame members, and are provided with adjusting nuts 88, so that by loosening the -U-bolts 84 and adjusting the nuts 88, the

brackets 80 may be shifted forward or backward along the frame.

The greater portion of the weight of the vehicle is borne by carriages 89, Fig. 1, one on each side, each having a series of rollers 90 adapted to operate upon the lower runs of the track chains 83 and an idler roller 91 to support the upper run of said track chain. Said carriages 89 are suitably secured to the frame members 2 and 4 by means not shown in the drawings.

From the foregoing description the advantages of my traction engine will be apparent to anyone versed in the art. There is no differential or balance-gear, thus insuring a positive drive for either or both wheels irrespective of ground surface, and permitting the use of a solid axle of great strength and simplicity. By means of the individual clutch and brake mechanism associated with each driving wheel, the machine may be easily controlled and steered. And finally, the simple construction of the driving axle itself. insures good wearing qualities and ease of repair and replacement.

I claim:

1. In a traction-engine the combination of a driving axle; driving wheels freely rotatable upon said axle; a clutch drum secured to and projecting from the side of each of said wheels, said drum having a V-shaped inner surface; a flange lying within each clutch drum against the side of the wheel and having a hubfitted upon and keyed to the axle, said flange having guide pins projecting from its face; an expansible severed clutch ring, slotted upon the guide pins of each flange and having a V-shaped outer surface adapted to make and break frictional engagement with the V-shaped inner surface of the clutch drum; a rocking cam seated between the severed ends of each clutch ring and adapted to control the expansion and contraction of said ring; a lever to rock said cam; and a slidable tapered sleeve on the flange hub, adapted to operate the lever.

2. In a traction-engine the combination of a driving axle; driving wheels freely rotatable upon said axle; a clutch drum secured toand projecting from the side of each of said wheels, said drum having a V-shaped inner surface; a flange lying within each clutch drum against the side of the wheel and having a hub fitted upon and keyed to the axle, said flange having guide pins projecting fromits face; an expansible severed clutch ring, slotted upon the guide pins of each flange and having a V-shaped outer surface adapted to make and break frictional engagement with the V-shaped inner surface of the clutch drum; a rocking cam seated between the severed ends of each clutch ring and adapted to control the expansion and contraction of said ring; a lever to rock said cam; an adjustable contact screw carried by said lever; and a slidable tapered sleeve on the flange hub adapted by impingement on said screw to operate the lever.

3. Ina traction-engine the combination of a driving axle; driving wheels freely rotatable upon said axle; a clutch drum secured to and projecting from the side of each of said wheels, said drum having a V- shaped inner surface; a flange lying within each clutch drum against the side of the wheel and having a hub fitted upon and keyed to the axle, said flange having guide pins projecting from its face; an expansible severed clutch ring slotted upon the guide pins of each flange and having a V-shaped outer surface adapted to make and break frictional engagement .with the V-shaped inner surface of theclutch drum; a rocking cam seated between the severed ends of each clutch ring and adapted to control the expansion and contraction of said ring; a lever to rock said cam; a slidable tapered sleeve on the flange hub adapted to operate the lever; a brake band fitted upon each clutch drum; and means for operating said brake bands.

f4. In a traction-engine the combination 0 tatable upon said axle; a clutch drum secured to and projecting from the side of each of said wheels, said drum having a V- shaped inner surface; a flange lying within each clutch drum against the side of the wheel and having a hub fitted upon and keyed to the axle, said flange having guide pins projecting from its face; an expansible severed clutch ring slotted upon the guide pins of each flange and having a V-shaped outer surface adapted to make and break frictional engagement. with the V-shaped inner surface of the clutch drum; a rocka driving axle; driving wheels freely roing cam seated between the severed ends of each clutch ring and adapted to control the expansion and contraction of said ring; a lever to rock said cam; a slidable tapered sleeve on the flange hub adapted to operate the lever; and a cover plate carried by the clutch drums and packed about the sliding sleeves for housing in the clutch rings.

5. In a traction-engine, the combination of a frame; a one piece driving axle mounted in the frame; driving wheels freely rotatable upon said axle; a clutch drum secured to and projecting from the side of each of said wheels; a flange lying within each clutch drum against the side of the Wheel and having a hub fitted upon and keyed to the axle; an expansible severed clutch ring seated in each of said flanges and adaptedto coact with the corresponding clutch drum; a cam operating between the severed ends of each clutch ring to control the expansion and contraction of said ring; a lever to rock each of said cams; a slidable tapered sleeve on each flange hub to operate said levers; a

cover plate carried by each of theclutch drums and packed about the sliding sleeves to house in the clutch rings; a housing with extended ends carried by the frame, said axle passing through the housing; protecting rings packed upon said extended ends and lying against the sliding clutch operating sleeves; a worm gear keyed to the axle and provided with side-extending hubs; supporting bearings between said gear hubs and the housing; other bearings between the axle and extended ends of the housing; means associated with the housing and hearings to take the end thrust of the axle; a shaft carrying a worm engaging the worm gear within the housing; and means for driving the worm shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' FRANK MOON.

Witnesses-z WM. F. Boo'rn,

D. B. RIcHARDs. 

